Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the use of single crewed ambulances deployed on the instructions of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Malcolm Chisholm: Where the Scottish Ambulance Service assesses that an area should be served by an accident and emergency unit, then a double crewed unit is what should be provided. There may be circumstances where, for example, a member of staff reports sick at short notice and the service is unable to secure a relief member. In these circumstances, a single-crewed unit may be used. Such cases should only arise in the most exceptional of circumstances. Where a single-crewed unit is deployed, a double-crewed vehicle will also be dispatched where required. The member is aware that I have recently written to the Chairman of the Scottish Ambulance Service to make it clear that I expect to see service improvement delivered to urban and rural areas of Scotland in equal measure and that there should be a reduction in the number of occasions when a single crewed ambulance is dispatched.

Ambulance Service

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Ambulance Service to ensure that ambulances are appropriately staffed.

Malcolm Chisholm: The staffing of ambulances is primarily an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service. If the ambulance service assesses that an area should be served by an accident and emergency unit, then a double crewed unit is what should be provided. Where, in exceptional circumstances, such as staff sickness, it is not possible to dispatch a double-crewed ambulance in response to an emergency call, a single-crewed vehicle may be sent. In response to concerns, I have written recently to the Chairman of the Scottish Ambulance Service asking for a reduction in the number of occasions when a single crewed ambulance is dispatched.

Ambulance Service

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the funding allocation for the Scottish Ambulance Service was in (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05.

Malcolm Chisholm: The initial funding allocation for the Scottish Ambulance Service for 2003-04 was £120.278 million. The initial allocation for 2004-05 was £128.096 million, an increase of 6.5% on the previous year.

Animal Welfare

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4566 by Ross Finnie on 11 December 2003, what progress has been made regarding a European prohibition on the commercial movement of puppies and kittens under eight weeks unless accompanied by their mother.

Ross Finnie: The Commission proposal to amend the welfare conditions of animals during transport did not receive sufficient EU-wide support and was not adopted, therefore the proposal to ban the commercial transportation of puppies and kittens under eight weeks of age unless accompanied by their mother has not been implemented. The current legislation remains The Welfare of Animals Transport Order 1997 which prohibits the commercial transportation of new-born animals whose navel has not completely healed.

Audiology

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times are for audiology appointments in each NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not available centrally. Information on NHS waiting times is collected centrally only for first out-patient appointments at consultant-led clinics, following referral by a general medical or dental practitioner, at specialty level only, and for in-patient and day case treatment.

  The Executive is committed to modernising and improving audiology services across NHSScotland. We are investing almost £20 million over the five year period 2002-03 to 2006-07 to ensure NHS boards are equipped with the necessary facilities, equipment, staff and hearing aids to provide a modernised service.

  Each NHS board has its own action plan for modernisation and has therefore reached different stages in the modernisation process.

Care of Elderly People

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many beds are occupied by long-stay patients who are fit to move into a nursing or residential home, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Tom McCabe: The number of patients whose discharge from hospital was delayed and who were awaiting a placement in a care home at the time of the April 2004 census is shown in Table 1. Long-stay patients cannot be separately identified from the census.

  Table 1 – Patients Ready for Discharge – Numbers Waiting for Care Home Placement by NHS Board as at April 2004 Census

  

NHS Board
Number of Patients Waiting for a Care Home Placement¹


Scotland 
795


Argyll and Clyde
108


Ayrshire and Arran
48


Borders
15


Dumfries and Galloway
3


Fife 
85


Forth Valley
46


Grampian
104


Greater Glasgow
94


Highland
35


Lanarkshire
34


Lothian 
141


Orkney
3


Shetland
0


Tayside
70


Western Isles
9



  Note:

  1. Number of patients ready for discharge where the principal reason was:

  - awaiting place availability in local authority residential home, independent residential home or nursing home (not NHS funded);

  - non-availability of public funding to purchase Residential/Nursing home place;

  - patient exercising statutory right of choice, with one of the above as the secondary reason, or

  - awaiting completion of social care arrangements in local authority residential home placement, independent residential home placement or nursing home placement (not NHS funded).

  Since January 2002 and the launch of the first delayed discharge action plan, we have reduced the numbers delayed from 3,116 to 1,785 at April 2004. The number of patients delayed for more than six weeks has halved. The number of patients delayed for over 12 months has reduced by 68%. Furthermore, each local authority currently has vacant places in care homes for older people.

Care of Elderly People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the social work expenditure on care of the elderly was in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority and expressed also per head of population.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is given in the following table.

  Net Expenditure Per Local Authority on Older People

  

 
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03


£000
£ Per Head
£000
£ Per Head
£000
£ Per Head
£000
£ Per Head
£000
£ Per Head


Scotland
 263,990
52.05
301,856
59.62
293,192
57.89
316,513
62.62
769,997
152.25


Aberdeen City
3,253
15.15
13,418
62.89
13,412
63.29
14,643
69.97
29,626
143.40


Aberdeenshire
10,796
47.51
11,717
51.61
12,619
55.61
13.219
58.16
29,285
127.70


Angus
8,175
74.61
7,967
73.20
6,919
63.85
8,019
74,16
20,944
194.79


Argyll and Bute
5,252
57.32
5,056
55.53
6,297
68.97
7,119
78.20
16,885
184.94


Clackmannanshire
1,873
38.84
2,938
60.99
1,889
39.30
2,623
54.72
5,710
119.76


Dumfries and Galloway
8,020
54.10
8,583
58.18
7,941
53.73
7,857
53.34
22,326
151.66


Dundee City
9,183
62.06
8,666
59.11
8.941
61.47
9,152
63.48
23,606
164.97


East Ayrshire
5,696
47.25
5,526
46.00
5,684
47.25
6,008
50.17
18,057
156.92


East Dunbartonshire
591
5.44
541
4.98
836
7.73
643
5.99
9,769
91.32


East Lothian
5,127
57.53
4,934
54.87
4,491
49.80
4,751
52.35
13,582
149.11


East Renfrewshire
3,642
41.14
4,482
50.34
4,759
53.22
5,535
61.76
12,416
138.45


Edinburgh City
16,260
36.36
16,218
36.17
17,497
38.97
19,380
43.25
56,934
126.98


Eilean Siar
3,721
136.74
3,852
143.77
3,842
145.25
4,094
156.24
8,379
321.03


Falkirk
9,431
65.23
9,363
64.73
9,380
64.57
10.606
72.87
22,266
138.88


Fife
18,484
53.26
18,842
54.09
18,766
53.65
20,361
58.06
54,532
154.90


Glasgow City
44,964
77.13
60,634
105.08
44,959
77.69
46,835
81.12
102,876
178.27


Highland
13,391
64.01
16,064
76.81
17,764
85.03
17,895
85.98
36,745
175.75


Inverclyde
4,663
54.66
5,034
59.46
5,025
59.72
5,547
66.35
14,315
172.37


Midlothian
3,116
38.65
3,654
45.05
3,878
47.90
3,826
46.52
10,045
126.02


Moray
4,352
50.14
4,952
57.10
5,707
65.60
5,056
58.29
11,458
131.01


North Ayrshire
5,707
41.61
6,173
45.27
6,408
47.18
7,526
55.48
18,102
133.07


North Lanarkshire
16,879
52.39
18,610
57.90
20,463
63.71
21,541
67.03
56,803
176.51


Orkney Islands
1,853
95.44
2,037
105.58
2,081
108.30
2,288
119.10
4,166
215.74


Perth and Kinross
5,952
44.03
7,500
55.57
7,056
52.29
8,003
59.21
22,099
162.50


Renfrewshire
9,366
53.70
8,564
49.31
10,240
59.24
10,731
62.41
23,856
139.53


Scottish Borders
6,367
60.18
5,931
55.82
5,750
53.77
6,080
56.61
15,980
147.58


Shetland Islands
1,321
58.70
1,192
53.75
1,525
69.45
2,147
97.84
4,847
221.63


South Ayrshire
6,736
59.69
8,068
71.85
7,952
70.90
8,793
78.74
19,848
177.88


South Lanarkshire
13,402
44.29
13,489
44.63
13,908
46.00
16,630
55.04
45,319
149.56


Stirling
3,156
36.93
3,570
41.43
3,697
42.89
2,974
34.52
11,163
129.25


West Dunbartonshire
7,049
74.66
7,516
80.02
7,295
78.17
8,361
90.06
13,582
147.12


West Lothian
6,213
40.14
6,767
43.09
6,207
39.03
8.274
51.73
15,766
97.98



  Source: LFR 3 returns to the Scottish Executive

  Notes:

  1. Net expenditure is expenditure to be financed from grants, non-domestic rates, council taxes and balances.

  2. All per head figures based on mid-year estimates of Scotland population.

  3. For 1998-99 to 2001-02 revenue contributions to capital and support service costs have been apportioned notionally, pro rata to expenditure on operating costs.

  4. There are two reasons for the large increase in 2002-03:

  (a) Figures from 1998-99 to 2001-02 exclude items such as home care, equipment and adaptations, community alarms, lunch clubs and meals on wheels. There items were included in the older people category from 2002-03 as a result of a review of the local financial returns.

  (b) The introduction of free personal care from 1 July 2002.

Central Heating

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time has been between application, approval and installation of central heating by Eaga Partnership Ltd under the central heating installation programme in each year since the inception of the programme.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Communities Scotland took over this programme in 2003-04. The average time between application, approval and installation of a central heating system, in each of the years since the inception of the programme, are shown in the table below.

  

 
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Average Waiting Time
5 months
9 months
5 months
5 months


 
 
 
 
(April – August)

Civil Service

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any notification from, or had discussions with, Her Majesty’s Government regarding any likely reduction in civil service jobs based in Aberdeen and, if so, whether it has made any representations on the matter.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has not received any notification from, or had any discussions with, Her Majesty’s Government regarding any likely reduction in civil service jobs based in Aberdeen. For those civil service posts that are the responsibility of UK ministers, it will be for them and their senior management teams to make decisions about structure, size, and organisation based on their assessment of business needs. However, the Scottish Executive would expect to be advised of any potential loss of jobs in Scotland.

Climate Change

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what activities are being planned to deliver equivalent outcomes to the climate change communications strategy being developed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Ross Finnie: It is too early to speculate on the implications for Scotland of the proposed climate change communications strategy. However, we are working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in considering recommendations for a UK Government climate change communications campaign, in order to weigh up options for Scotland, including the relationship with the Executive’s existing environmental awareness campaign, Do a little: Change a lot.

Climate Change

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what 10 factors contribute most to CO 2 emissions in Scotland, listed in descending order.

Ross Finnie: Levels of carbon dioxide emissions in Scotland by source are reported in the publication Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1999-2001  a copy of which has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 32027) and is also available on the Executive’s climate change website at www.scotland.gov.uk/climatechange .

Community Wardens

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend the provision of community wardens.

Ms Margaret Curran: Scottish Executive funding to tackle antisocial behaviour is supporting community wardens in every local authority area in Scotland in neighbourhoods prioritised by Community Planning Partnerships. While we cannot pre-empt the outcome of the spending review, local authorities may want to consider using part of any future Executive funding to tackle antisocial behaviour for wardens, if they consider that a priority.

  In areas where previous pilot schemes have been established these have been popular with residents often leading to calls for their extension into other areas. Councils in areas such as Edinburgh and Renfrewshire have used a mix of Scottish Executive funding and their own resources to support expanding warden coverage.

Community Wardens

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure provision of permanent community warden services.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive is providing support for Community Warden schemes across Scotland over the period 2004-06 through two rounds of funding to tackle antisocial behaviour. While we cannot pre-empt the outcome of the spending review, we anticipate that Antisocial Behaviour Outcome Agreements linked to local antisocial behaviour strategies will be for three years from 2005. In that context, local authorities may want to consider using part of any future Executive funding to tackle anti-social behaviour for wardens, if they consider that a priority.

Drug Misuse

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has had into the draft EU drugs strategy that the Dutch presidency of the European Union expects to present shortly.

Hugh Henry: We have been in regular contact with the Home Office on this, and other drug-related policy issues. We have contributed comments on the draft EU Drugs Strategy to the Home Office, and these have been reflected in responses from the UK Government.

Drug Misuse

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of Tackling Drugs Misuse, the £3 million project announced by the Minister for Communities on 5 February 2004, was allocated to North Ayrshire.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  North Ayrshire has been allocated £93,576 of the Tackling Drugs Misuse monies in 2004-05.

Education

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school classes have 25 or more pupils, broken down by local authority area.

Peter Peacock: The information requested, which is available for Primary and S1/S2 Mathematics and English classes is set out in the following tables:

  Primary Class Sizes, September 2003

  

Local Authority
Greater than or
Equal to 25
All Classes


Aberdeen City
282
559


Aberdeenshire
359
900


Angus
199
385


Argyll and Bute
102
348


Clackmannanshire
111
164


Dumfries and Galloway
216
515


Dundee City
252
417


East Ayrshire
218
405


East Dunbartonshire
232
385


East Lothian
188
328


East Renfrewshire
240
320


Edinburgh, City of
571
1,092


Eilean Siar
7
155


Falkirk
312
470


Fife
562
1,208


Glasgow City
797
1,738


Highland
263
858


Inverclyde
122
283


Midlothian
129
287


Moray
153
341


North Ayrshire
275
461


North Lanarkshire
574
1,162


Orkney Islands
18
87


Perth and Kinross
203
453


Renfrewshire
346
562


Scottish Borders
138
396


Shetland Islands
9
117


South Ayrshire
201
355


South Lanarkshire
535
1,105


Stirling
140
298


West Dunbartonshire
164
320


West Lothian
329
603



  Secondary Class Sizes, September 2003

  

Local Authority
S1 Maths
S2 Maths
S1 English
S2 English


Greater than or equal to 25
All classes
Greater than or equal to 25
All classes
Greater than or equal to 25
All classes
Greater than or equal to 25
All classes


Aberdeen City
45
86
42
90
52
84
44
85


Aberdeenshire
66
95
62
98
66
96
68
98


Angus
35
54
38
52
40
54
43
52


Argyll and Bute
31
47
27
45
35
42
24
43


Clackmannanshire
5
31
12
24
6
31
13
24


Dumfries and Galloway
46
72
44
77
46
71
42
77


Dundee City
38
70
27
75
42
68
31
75


East Ayrshire
43
61
39
62
48
59
48
60


East Dunbartonshire
54
56
48
57
54
56
51
56


East Lothian
29
45
32
46
32
45
34
44


East Renfrewshire
43
49
41
48
43
49
43
49


Edinburgh, City of
90
157
89
156
84
155
70
157


Eilean Siar
1
23
1
23
1
22
1
23


Falkirk
54
64
48
64
55
64
56
65


Fife
123
162
119
161
135
160
133
160


Glasgow City
178
224
158
217
194
218
172
213


Highland
67
118
65
115
73
116
63
116


Inverclyde
31
40
26
42
31
40
31
40


Midlothian
24
48
22
50
22
46
18
50


Moray
26
50
26
46
25
50
22
46


North Ayrshire
48
73
51
72
48
71
58
68


North Lanarkshire
126
167
107
170
132
165
104
167


Orkney Islands
5
14
6
16
5
14
5
15


Perth and Kinross
38
58
41
56
45
57
43
57


Renfrewshire
58
86
56
90
66
77
67
83


Scottish Borders
26
58
30
57
20
57
34
54


Shetland Islands
1
17
3
18
0
16
3
17


South Ayrshire
37
55
38
56
45
49
43
54


South Lanarkshire
122
143
111
142
131
143
127
139


Stirling
39
42
33
43
39
42
32
43


West Dunbartonshire
36
51
32
51
36
47
34
50


West Lothian
59
83
56
82
62
82
58
79



  The data was collected as part of the September 2003 school census. Class related data for other secondary stages or subjects was not collected and is not held centrally.

Employment

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current level of unemployment is, broken down by local authority area.

Mr Jim Wallace: There are two measures of unemployment used in the UK. Unemployment (previously know as International Labour Organisation (ILO) unemployment) and the claimant count. There are significant differences between the unemployment level derived from the ILO unemployment measure and the claimant count. The ILO measure of unemployment is a wider definition and includes individuals who are actively seeking work as well as those claiming job seekers benefits, whereas claimant count only includes those claiming job seekers benefits.

  Unemployment levels obtained from the Labour Force Survey using the ILO definition is the Executive’s preferred measure of unemployment. However, it is currently less reliable for geographical areas lower than Scotland level. The claimant count is based on administrative records and is more reliable at local authority level.

  Table 1: Unemployment Levels by Local Authority Area, Scotland

  

Area
Unemployment (ILO),
Total 16+
Claimant Count August 2004


Scotland
151,000
94,494


Aberdeen City
*
2,683


Aberdeenshire
*
1,915


Angus
*
1,933


Argyll and Bute
*
1,414


Clackmannanshire
*
1,055


Dumfries and Galloway
*
2,208


Dundee City
*
3,889


East Ayrshire
*
3,198


East Dunbartonshire
*
1,199


East Lothian
*
936


East Renfrewshire
*
916


City of Edinburgh
11,000
7,194


Eilean Siar (Western Isles)
*
594


Falkirk
*
2,758


Fife
11,000
7,900


Glasgow City
24,000
16,616


Highland
*
2,927


Inverclyde
*
2,829


Midlothian
*
1,026


Moray
*
1,008


North Ayrshire
*
3,854


North Lanarkshire
13,000
6,562


Orkney Islands
*
177


Perth and Kinross
*
1,566


Renfrewshire
*
3,510


Scottish Borders
*
1,092


Shetland Islands
*
228


South Ayrshire
*
2,208


South Lanarkshire
*
5,039


Stirling
*
1,209


West Dunbartonshire
*
2,454


West Lothian
*
2,397



  Source: Labour Force Survey, 2004 Spring Quarter, Seasonally Adjusted.

  First Release: Labour Market Statistics, Scotland September 2004.

  Note: *Sample size too small for reliable estimate.

Environment

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to consult the public as part of its review of the Scottish climate change programme.

Ross Finnie: A formal consultation exercise, as part of the review of the Scottish Climate Change Programme, will be launched before the end of the year.

Environment

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-464 by Ross Finnie on 10 June 2003, what stage the development of performance indicators under the Keep Scotland Beautiful project has reached.

Ross Finnie: 2003-04 reports have been collated by Keep Scotland Beautiful and have been issued to local authorities following completion of the first year operation of LEAMS. However, it has been decided by Audit Scotland that as the first year was run essentially as a pilot, the final overall marking for each local authority taken from their first year reports will not be formally published as Performance Indicators. It will be up to each individual authority to decide if they make their own report public.

  The first performance indicators to be published by Audit Scotland will be the 2004-05 figures and these should be available in autumn 2005.

Environment

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33327 by Ross Finnie on 31 January 2003, how the £3 million for local anti-litter initiatives was allocated, broken down by local authority, and how it monitors the effectiveness of these local schemes.

Mr Andy Kerr: The £3 million for local anti-litter initiatives as answered in question S1W-33327 relates to indicative figures received from local authorities as part of the £95 million End Year Flexibility funding for Quality of Life activities for 2002. Councils made the decisions at a local level on the most appropriate levels of additional spending on improving the local environment and/or services for children and young people.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

  Local Environmental Audit and Management System (LEAMS) will provide a performance indicator for street cleanliness to be published by Audit Scotland in 2005. The impact of any additional funding that Councils choose to spend from the Quality of Life funds should be captured within this new performance indicator.

  The estimated £3 million spend by local authorities for local anti-litter initiatives in 2002 is set out in the table.

  

Local Authority
£


Aberdeen, City
 112,000


Aberdeenshire
 -


Angus
 39,000


Argyll and Bute
 -


Clackmannanshire
 30,000


Dumfries and Galloway
 60,000


Dundee
 124,000


East Ayrshire
 50,000


East Dunbartonshire
 70,000 


East Lothian
 90,000


East Renfrewshire
 117,000


Edinburgh, City
 240,000


Eilean Siar
 50,000


Falkirk
 100,000


Fife
 280,000


Glasgow
 625,000


Highland
9,500


Inverclyde
 -


Midlothian
 -


Moray
 -


North Ayrshire
 64,500


North Lanarkshire
 290,000


Orkney
 -


Perth and Kinross
 7,500


Renfrewshire
 100,000


Scottish Borders
 -


Shetland
 80,000


South Ayrshire
 143,000


South Lanarkshire
 100,000


Stirling
 167,000


West Dunbartonshire
 165,000


West Lothian
 -


Total
3,113,500

Environment and Rural Affairs Department

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget for its Environment and Rural Affairs Department was in each of the last five years, broken down by issue and detailing year on year percentage increases and decreases.

Mr Andy Kerr: The period 1999-2000 to 2003-04 covers the transition between cash and resource budgeting and accounting which makes it difficult to compare expenditure data on a like for like basis. However, by excluding non-cash items such as cost of capital and capital depreciation, it is possible to present figures in a comparable way so as to demonstrate trends in expenditure.

  To allow such a comparison, it is necessary also to exclude any exceptional items of spending. The Table below sets out details of spending by the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department on this basis and notes the year on year percentage changes for each of the Department’s Level 2 groups of spending.

  £ Million

  

 
Outturn
Outturn
Outturn
Outturn
Plans


1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Cap Market Support
335
341
(+2%)
330
(-3%)
353
(+7%)
397
(+13%)


Rural Development
87
80
(-8%)
106
(+32%)
120
(+13%)
141
(+18%)


Agricultural, Biological Science and Others
83
84 (+2%)
88
(+5%)
93 (+5%)
119 
(+28%)


Fisheries
33
32
(-4%)
35
(+11%)
41
(+15%)
48 
(+17%)


Natural Heritage
39
41
(+6%)
53 (+28%)
55 (+4%)
65
(+18%)


Environmental Protection
19
21
(+9%)
27
(+32%)
44 (+62%)
86 
(+95%)


Research and Sustainable Action
2
2 
3
(+50%)
5 (+71%)
7
(+38%)


Water Services
216
209
(-3%)
211
(+1%)
182
(-14%)
181
(-1%)


Total SEERAD
814
809 
(-1%)
854
(+6%)
892
(+4%)
1,044
(+17%)



  Notes:

  1. Provision for CAP Market Support spending is agreed annually with the UK Treasury and is outside the Scottish Block.

  2. Numbers shown for fisheries expenditure exclude the exceptional provision made for Decommissioning and Transitional Aid Schemes.

  3. Figures for Natural Heritage spending in 2003-04 exclude exceptional provision for transfer of Pensions liabilities.

Environment and Rural Affairs Department

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff were employed in the environment sections of the Environment and Rural Affairs Department in each of the last three years, broken down by responsibility.

Mr Andy Kerr: The tables below show the number of permanent full time equivalent staff employed in the environment sections of the Environment and Rural Affairs Department in each of the last three years, broken down by pay band and area of responsibility.

  Table A

  Permanent Staff by Band as at 1 April 2002

  

 
All Staff
Band A
Band B
Band C
Senior Civil Service


Total Environment Group
118.3 
27.5 
58.8 
26.0 
6.0 


Head of Group and PS
2.0 
1.0 
0 
0 
1.0 


Air, Climate and Engineering Division
17.8 
4.8 
8.0 
5.0 
0 


Countryside and Natural Heritage
32.6 
9.6 
16.0 
5.0 
2.0 


Ecological Advisers Unit
9.0 
0.0 
6.0 
2.0 
1.0 


Environmental Protection Unit
28.6 
5.6 
15.0 
7.0 
1.0 


Sustainable Development Directorate
7.0 
2.0 
2.0 
3.0 
0 


Water Services Unit
21.3 
4.5 
11.8 
4.0 
1.0 



  Table B

  Permanent staff by band as at 1 April 2003

  

 
All Staff
Band A
Band B
Band C
Senior Civil Service


Total Environment Group
130.3 
24.3 
73.8 
27.5 
4.7 


Head of Group and PS
2.0 
1.0 
0 
0 
1.0 


Air, Climate and Engineering Division
17.8 
4.8 
8.0 
5.0 
0 


Countryside and Natural Heritage
37.4 
9.4 
22.0 
5.0 
1.0 


Ecological Advisers Unit
13.0 
0 
11.0 
2.0 
0.0 


Environmental Protection Unit
31.8 
3.6 
19.0 
7.5 
1.7 


Sustainable Development Directorate
8.0 
2.0 
3.0 
3.0 
0 


Water Services Unit
20.3 
3.5 
10.8 
5.0 
1.0 



  Table C

  Permanent Staff by Band as at 1 April 2004

  

 
All Staff
Band A
Band B
Band C
Senior Civil Service


Total Environment Group
145.9 
27.2 
84.6 
28.7 
5.4 


Head of Group and PS
2.0 
1.0 
0 
0 
1.0 


Air, Climate and Engineering Division
18.8 
3.8 
10.0 
5.0 
0 


Countryside and Natural Heritage
37.0 
9.8 
20.0 
6.2 
1.0 


Ecological Advisers Unit
13.0 
0.0 
11.0 
2.0 
0.0 


Environmental Protection Unit
40.1 
5.1 
26.8 
6.5 
1.7 


Sustainable Development Directorate
13.7 
3.0 
6.0 
4.0 
0.7 


Water Services Unit
21.3 
4.5 
10.8 
5.0 
1.0

European Union

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, during its recent negotiations with the European Union it has, either directly or through Her Majesty’s Government, secured any new measures that will enhance the influence of sub-state governments with primary legislative powers that do not apply to regions or local authorities that do not have such powers.

Mr Andy Kerr: The EU Constitutional Treaty Protocol on the Application of the Principles of Subsidiarity and Proportionality specifically provides for the involvement of regional parliaments with legislative powers in the operation of the subsidiarity mechanism. This involvement does not extend to non-legislative regions or local authorities.

  In co-operation with the UK Government and through the First Minister’s presidency of the group of EU regions with legislative powers, the Scottish Executive has successfully argued for the retention in the Treaty of important references that enhance the role of the regions with legislative powers and reinforce the principle of subsidiarity in European decision-making.

  In particular, the Treaty provides in the Protocol on subsidiarity, in the case of framework laws, for any legislative proposal from the European Commission to contain a statement of its implications for the rules to be put in place by member states, including, where necessary, the regional legislation.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff were employed in the fisheries section of the Environment and Rural Affairs Department in each of the last three years, broken down by responsibility.

Mr Andy Kerr: The following tables show the number of permanent full time equivalent staff employed in the fisheries section of the Environment and Rural Affairs Department in each of the last three years, broken down by pay band and area of responsibility.

  Table A

  Permanent Staff by Band as at 1 April 2002

  

 
All Staff
Band A
Band B
Band C
Senior Civil Service


Total Fisheries Group
52.4 
13.0 
27.4 
9.0 
3.0 


Head of Group and PS
2.0 
1.0 
0 
0 
1.0 


Freshwater
19.9 
3.5 
11.4 
4.0 
1.0 


Sea Fisheries
30.5 
8.5 
16.0 
5.0 
1.0 



  Table B

  Permanent staff by band as at 1 April 2003

  

 
All Staff
Band A
Band B
Band C
Senior Civil Service


Total Fisheries Group
50.8 
13.5 
26.3 
8.0 
3.0 


Head of Group and PS
2.0 
1.0 
0 
0 
1.0 


Freshwater
22.3 
5.0 
12.3 
4.0 
1.0 


Sea Fisheries
26.5 
7.5 
14.0 
4.0 
1.0 



  Table C

  Permanent Staff by Band as at 1 April 2004

  

 
All Staff
Band A 
Band B 
Band C 
Senior Civil Service


Total Fisheries Group
55.1 
15.0 
28.1 
10.0 
2.0 


Head of Group and PS
2.0 
1.0 
0 
0 
1.0 


Freshwater
21.6 
5.5 
11.1 
5.0 
0 


Sea Fisheries
31.5 
8.5 
17.0 
5.0 
1.0

G8 Summit

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it will have in next year's G8 Summit.

Mr Andy Kerr: The G8 Summit will be held at Gleneagles from 6 to 8 July next year. The decision to hold the event in Scotland was made by the Prime Minister and is warmly welcomed by the Scottish Executive.

  The summit is a tremendous opportunity for Scotland to demonstrate its excellent facilities and infrastructure and to promote itself as a world-class destination for tourism, business and study as well as an attractive place to live. This will reinforce the work being done on Scotland’s international image and is expected to bring significant benefits not only during the summit itself but in the long term as a result of heightened media exposure and increased visitor numbers.

  I chair the Ministerial Group which oversees Scotland’s involvement with the G8 Summit. We are working closely with the UK Government and public agencies, non-governmental organisations and businesses throughout Scotland to ensure that Scotland reaps maximum benefits from the summit and that as many people as possible have an opportunity to be involved with events surrounding the summit.

  The Executive is also committed to ensuring that the summit is safe and secure. Scottish police forces have considerable experience of managing large scale events and are well-equipped to cope with the security operation. Tayside Police is responsible for co-ordinating security arrangements in the area and will have support from other law enforcement agencies and forces south of the border.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in ensuring that NHS boards and local authorities have local professionals trained to look for early signs of dementia, as recommended in The same as you? A review of services for people with learning disabilities .

Mr Tom McCabe: Promoting Health Supporting Inclusion  (July 2002) recognised the important role of specialist nurses in assessing dementia and providing interventions, and recommended that learning disability nurses should be members of specialist teams to liaise with all tiers of health care for people with learning disabilities. Implementation of Promoting Health Supporting Inclusion  is monitored through Partnership in Practice Agreements and through the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland Learning Disability Quality Indicators. These ask NHS boards to demonstrate the accessibility of assessment and early diagnostic services, a full range of therapeutic interventions, and staff training programmes that include dementia awareness.

  We are also funding the Dementia Services Development Centre and the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability to develop a training pack for social care staff about people with learning disabilities who develop dementia.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all NHS boards will meet the target of closing all remaining long-stay hospitals for people with learning disabilities by 2005 as set out in The same as you? A review of services for people with learning disabilities and, if not, what the timetable is for the closure of all remaining hospitals after this date.

Mr Tom McCabe: The target for the closure of long stay learning disability hospitals remains the end of 2005, and we continue to expect all NHS boards to meet this target.

  We are aware that several health boards are unlikely to make this date for a small number of people, and we are impressing on them the need to ensure that those remaining are given suitable housing as soon as possible in 2006.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with learning disabilities currently reside in long-stay hospitals.

Mr Tom McCabe: Current indications are that fewer than 320 people with learning disabilities are currently living in long-stay hospitals as their home.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards now have appropriate community services for assessment and treatment of people with learning disabilities, as recommended in The same as you? A review of services for people with learning disabilities .

Mr Tom McCabe: The Home at last?  report on hospital closure and service re-provision, published in January 2004, describes some examples of community based assessment and treatment services and sets out a number of action points to assist NHS boards to achieve this goal. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland’s programme of work over the next 12 months will focus on learning disability hospital closure and service re-provision plans in all NHS board areas.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the number of children with decayed, missing or filled teeth at age 12 was (DMFT-12 index) in each year since 1999, calculated on the same basis as the World Health Organization’s European health for all database.

Mr Tom McCabe: Dental epidemiological data for 12-year old children in Scotland is not available on the same basis as the World Health Organisation’s European Health for all database.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients were admitted to hospital suffering from hypothermia in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) age and (b) NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The table below shows the number of discharges from hospital with a diagnosis of hypothermia, by NHS board of residence and age.

  

 
Year Ending March


Board of Residence
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004P


All Areas
 


 All Ages
346
320
233
278
239


 0-14 
12
17
8
13
8


 15-24 
33
23
24
20
18


 25-44 
49
61
37
36
34


 45-64 
86
66
51
83
64


 65-74 
65
41
43
40
34


 75-84 
48
49
27
44
40


 85+
53
63
43
42
41


Argyll and Clyde
 


 All ages
21
17
27
18
14


 0-14 
*
*
*
*
*


 15-24 
5
*
*
*
*


 25-44 
*
7
6
6
*


 45-64 
6
*
5
*
5


 65-74 
*
*
5
*
*


 75-84 
5
*
*
*
5


 85+ 
*
*
6
*
*


Ayrshire and Arran
 


 All ages
52
47
29
31
19


 0-14 
*
*
*
*
*


 15-24 
*
*
*
5
*


 25-44 
9
*
6
*
7


 45-64 
12
9
*
5
*


 65-74 
11
8
5
7
*


 75-84 
7
10
7
6
5


 85+ 
9
15
*
7
*


Borders
 


 All ages
*
*
*
*
*


 0-14 
*
*
*
*
*


 15-24 
*
*
*
*
*


 25-44 
*
*
*
*
*


 45-64 
*
*
*
*
*


 65-74 
*
*
*
*
*


 75-84 
*
*
*
*
*


 85+ 
*
*
*
*
*


Dumfries and Galloway
 


 All ages
11
*
12
*
8


 0-14 
*
*
*
*
*


 15-24 
6
*
*
*
*


 25-44 
*
*
*
*
*


 45-64 
*
*
*
*
*


 65-74 
*
*
*
*
*


 75-84 
*
*
6
*
*


 85+ 
*
*
*
*
*


Fife
 


 All ages
23
28
11
19
10


 0-14 
*
*
*
*
*


 15-24 
*
*
*
*
*


 25-44 
*
8
*
*
*


 45-64 
5
*
*
13
*


 65-74 
*
7
*
*
*


 75-84 
*
5
*
*
*


 85+ 
*
6
5
*
*


Forth Valley
 


 All ages
*
13
*
16
9


 0-14 
*
*
*
*
*


 15-24 
*
*
*
*
*


 25-44 
*
*
*
*
*


 45-64 
*
*
*
6
*


 65-74 
*
*
*
*
*


 75-84 
*
5
*
*
*


 85+ 
*
*
*
*
*


Grampian
 


 All ages
24
25
23
27
25


 0-14 
*
*
*
*
*


 15-24 
*
*
*
*
*


 25-44 
5
*
*
*
6


 45-64 
*
5
6
7
*


 65-74 
*
*
*
*
5


 75-84 
*
*
*
*
*


 85+ 
*
5
7
9
*


Greater Glasgow 
 


 All ages
61
49
33
43
40


 0-14 
*
*
*
*
*


 15-24 
*
*
*
*
*


 25-44 
6
*
*
6
7


 45-64 
9
13
11
16
8


 65-74 
16
7
10
7
6


 75-84 
12
9
*
10
9


 85+ 
15
13
6
*
9


Highland
 


 All ages
27
29
21
25
34


 0-14 
*
*
*
*
*


 15-24 
*
*
*
*
*


 25-44 
*
10
*
*
*


 45-64 
10
7
8
7
8


 65-74 
6
*
*
9
*


 75-84 
*
*
*
*
*


 85+ 
*
*
*
*
11


Lanarkshire 
 


 All ages
17
10
5
8
17


 0-14 
*
*
*
*
*


 15-24 
*
*
*
*
*


 25-44 
*
*
*
*
*


 45-64 
7
*
*
*
*


 65-74 
*
*
*
*
8


 75-84 
*
*
*
*
*


 85+ 
*
*
*
*
*


Lothian 
 


 All ages
17
17
13
29
21


 0-14 
*
*
*
*
*


 15-24 
*
*
*
*
*


 25-44 
*
*
*
*
*


 45-64 
*
*
*
5
10


 65-74 
*
*
5
9
5


 75-84 
*
*
*
8
*


 85+ 
*
9
*
*
*


Orkney 
 


 All ages
*
*
7
6
*


 0-14 
*
*
*
*
*


 15-24 
*
*
*
*
*


 25-44 
*
*
*
*
*


 45-64 
*
*
*
*
*


 65-74 
*
*
*
*
*


 75-84 
*
*
*
*
*


 85+ 
*
*
*
*
*


Shetland
 


 All ages
*
6
*
*
5


 0-14 
*
*
*
*
*


 15-24 
*
*
*
*
*


 25-44 
*
*
*
*
*


 45-64 
*
*
*
*
*


 65-74 
*
*
*
*
*


 75-84 
*
*
*
*
*


 85+ 
*
*
*
*
*


Tayside 
 


 All ages
50
45
23
34
12


 0-14 
*
5
*
*
*


 15-24 
*
6
*
*
*


 25-44 
5
8
7
*
*


 45-64 
14
11
*
9
*


 65-74 
12
*
*
*
*


 75-84 
8
9
*
6
*


 85+ 
10
*
6
10
*


Western Isles 
 


 All ages
*
*
6
*
*


 0-14 
*
*
*
*
*


 15-24 
*
*
*
*
*


 25-44 
*
*
*
*
*


 45-64 
*
*
*
*
*


 65-74 
*
*
*
*
*


 75-84 
*
*
*
*
*


 85+ 
*
*
*
*
*


Other
 


 All ages
26
24
13
16
20


 0-14 
*
*
*
*
*


 15-24 
*
*
*
*
*


 25-44 
10
10
*
6
*


 45-64 
11
9
6
7
11


 65-74 
*
*
*
*
*


 75-84 
*
*
*
*
*


 85+ 
*
*
*
*
*



  PInformation for the year ended 31 March 2004 is provisional.

  Notes: *Numbers under five have been suppressed in line with ISD(Scotland)’s policy of maintaining patient confidentiality – this reduces the risk of the indirect identification of patients.

Health

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive when its review of drug treatment services will be published.

Hugh Henry: The recommendations from this review are being considered along with wider strategic issues including our criminal justice priorities, our overall drugs strategy, and the 2004 Spending Review. We will publish details of the review in the near future.

Housing

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost has been of homes built by Communities Scotland, and its predecessor organisation, in each of the last 10 years.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The following table gives details of the average total build cost of homes approved for construction through registered social landlords and other bodies by Communities Scotland, and its predecessor organisation, in each of the last 10 years.

  Average Total Build Cost Of Houses Approved For Funding 1994-95 to 2003-04 (£ Million)

  

1994-95
0.051


1995-96
0.054


1996-97
0.056


1997-98
0.056


1998-99
0.059


1999-2000
0.061


2000-01
0.066


2001-02
0.071


2002-03
0.074


2003-04
0.079



  Note: these figures relate to the average total build cost and not the average grant provided.

Housing

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of households was living in property that was below tolerable standard in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) is the only consistent national source of information on houses below tolerable standard (BTS), and provides the most reliable estimate of numbers of BTS houses in Scotland. The 2002 survey gives an estimate of 20,000 households living in houses below the standard in 2002. This is 0.9% of all households in Scotland. Because of the small number of houses identified in the survey as below the tolerable standard, the survey cannot provide estimates for individual councils.

  Councils provide the Executive with annual estimates of the number of below tolerable standard dwellings in the council area. Independent research conducted on behalf of the Executive into the basis for local and national estimates concluded that there were significant variations between councils in the way in which they interpret the standard when compiling their estimates, and identified weaknesses in the estimates. The report is available on the Scottish Executive website at (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/cru/resfinds/drf90-00.asp)

  The tables provide councils’ own estimates of total number of occupied dwellings below tolerable standard for each of the past five years, and expresses these as a percentage of the estimated number of households.

  Councils’ Estimates of Number of Occupied Dwellings Below Tolerable Standard.

  

Local Authority
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


Scotland
64,540
62,401
53,875
52,544
51,677


Aberdeen City
820
812
702
620
510


Aberdeenshire
2,551
2,551
Not Known
Not Known
599


Angus
586
600
600
600
600


Argyll and Bute
6,515
6,515
6,044
5,988
5,958


Clackmannanshire
248
248
228
145
145


Dumfries and Galloway
484
430
384
342
316


Dundee City
334
475
362
220
198


East Ayrshire
315
300
293
286
278


East Dunbartonshire
10
10
10
10
10


East Lothian
1,039
1,039
972
953
940


East Renfrewshire
59
38
106
93
88


Edinburgh, City of
4,503
4,403
33
33
33


Eilean Siar
2,786
2,786
2,786
2,019
2,019


Falkirk
191
191
191
191
191


Fife
694
648
740
728
734


Glasgow City 
22,845
22,213
22,213
22,213
22,213


Highland
4,674
4,070
4,053
4,117
4,139


Inverclyde
1,717
1,674
1,370
1,036
1,005


Midlothian
9
9
9
9
0


Moray
327
332
333
342
347


North Ayrshire
2,548
2,524
2,524
2,509
2,504


North Lanarkshire
574
482
481
502
515


Orkney
965
912
885
789
424


Perth and Kinross
1,699
1,614
1,579
1,568
1,544


Renfrewshire
933
695
677
799
821


Scottish Borders, The
3,786
3,521
3,319
3,139
3,020


Shetland
414
395
383
371
371


South Ayrshire
450
450
454
459
462


South Lanarkshire
1,547
1,547
1,227
1,547
1,227


Stirling
438
438
438
437
437


West Dunbartonshire
450
450
450
450
0


West Lothian
29
29
29
29
29



  Source: Scottish Executive Development Department IMP2 returns.

  Note: There are weaknesses and inconsistencies in these estimates – see text of reply for background.

  Councils’ Estimates of Number of Occupied Dwellings Below Tolerable Standard as a Percentage of Estimated Number of Households in the Council Area.

  

Local Authority
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


Scotland
112
109
100
90
84


Aberdeen City
1
1
1
1
1


Aberdeenshire
3
3
Not Known
Not Known
1


Angus
1
1
1
1
1


Argyll and Bute
17
17
15
15
15


Clackmannanshire
1
1
1
1
1


Dumfries and Galloway
1
1
1
1
0


Dundee City
0
1
1
0
0


East Ayrshire
1
1
1
1
1


East Dunbartonshire
0
0
0
0
0


East Lothian
3
3
3
2
2


East Renfrewshire
0
0
0
0
0


Edinburgh, City of
2
2
0
0
0


Eilean Siar
24
25
25
18
18


Falkirk
0
0
0
0
0


Fife
0
0
0
0
0


Glasgow City 
8
8
8
8
8


Highland
5
5
4
5
5


Inverclyde
5
5
4
3
3


Midlothian
0
0
0
0
0


Moray
1
1
1
1
1


North Ayrshire
4
4
4
4
4


North Lanarkshire
0
0
0
0
0


Orkney
12
11
10
9
5


Perth and Kinross
3
3
3
3
3


Renfrewshire
1
1
1
1
1


Scottish Borders, The
8
7
7
6
6


Shetland
4
4
4
4
4


South Ayrshire
1
1
1
1
1


South Lanarkshire
1
1
1
1
1


Stirling
1
1
1
1
1


West Dunbartonshire
1
1
1
1
0


West Lothian
0
0
0
0
0



  Note: There are weaknesses and inconsistencies in these estimates – see text of reply for background.

Housing

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes are currently required and how many are planned to be built in the next five years, broken down by local authority area.

Ms Margaret Curran: Preliminary findings from the Executive’s review of affordable housing were published on 7 July 2004. This included work undertaken by Professor Bramley of Heriot Watt University, to assess the national picture of affordable housing need. Details of the findings and the Bramley Report can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/DD/H3/00019504/page1661430580.aspx.

  Our plans for future investment in affordable housing will be announced following the outcome of the Spending Review.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many single surveys have been carried out in each pilot scheme area.

Ms Margaret Curran: As at 23 September 2004, a total of 41 single surveys had been commissioned: 40 in the Greater Glasgow North and West pilot area, one in the Edinburgh North and Leith area and none in the Dundee and Inverness areas.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many single surveys would have to be carried out to be considered as sufficient information to reach conclusions on recommendations from the pilot scheme project.

Ms Margaret Curran: The aim is to have at least 1,200 surveys. Should the total fall short of that, we would need to assess the reasons why before drawing conclusions.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the pilot scheme for single surveys will be completed.

Ms Margaret Curran: The pilot will run for a minimum of eight months and a maximum of 12, depending on take-up. As it began on 14 July 2004, it will therefore finish between March and July 2005.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been made to ensure continued funding for the Supporting People initiative beyond 2004-05.

Ms Margaret Curran: Decisions on future funding for Supporting People will be made shortly in the context of the wider Spending Review announcements.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with local authorities in respect of arrangements for the Supporting People initiative beyond 2004-05.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive meets Local Authority Supporting People lead officers on a monthly basis to discuss current and future issues. Local authorities are also represented on the review group that the Scottish Executive set up to review the programme and its future. They are also represented on the Supporting People Forum, representing a wider group of external stakeholders, which meets regularly. The Scottish Executive has also had discussions directly with COSLA itself on the programme’s future. I have held meetings with some individual councils in response to requests. I expect to be able to make announcements on the way forward shortly.

Judicial Appointments

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) applications were received, (b) persons were interviewed and (c) appointments were made by the Judicial Appointments Committee on each of the last two occasions on which applications were invited for shrieval appointments.

Cathy Jamieson: The two most recent exercises carried out by the Judicial Appointments Board were to fill shrieval vacancies at Perth and Dundee and for all-Scotland floating sheriffs. The vacancies at Perth and Dundee were advertised together. The information on each of these two exercises is as follows:

  Perth/Dundee

  Sixty-four applications were received, the majority of applicants (55) expressing an interest in vacancies arising in both courts. Ten candidates were called for interview, although one later withdrew before being interviewed. Four applicants were subsequently appointed, one at Perth and three at Dundee.

  All-Scotland Floating Sheriff.

  Ninety-one applications were received. Twenty-five applicants were interviewed. No appointments have yet been made.

Judicial Appointments

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions are given to officials regarding the sifting of applications for judicial appointments prior to these applications being submitted to the Judicial Appointments Committee.

Cathy Jamieson: All applications for judicial appointment are received, considered and sifted by members of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland. Scottish Executive officials are not involved in that process.

Meat Industry

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tonnes of rendered cattle remain to be disposed of as a result of BSE regulations and where such rendered cattle are stored.

Ross Finnie: As of 20 September 2004, there were 63,337 tonnes of meat and bonemeal (rendered cattle) remaining to be disposed of as a result of BSE Regulations, of which 59,919 tonnes are stored in England and 3,418 tonnes are stored in Northern Ireland. The stores in Scotland are effectively empty, although a small amount of material remains in the Glenrothes store and will be disposed of as part of the cleandown process.

Mental Health

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the findings were of the review conducted by the Scottish Children’s Reporters Administration (SCRA) into Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy and what action it intends to take as a result.

Euan Robson: The report is being published by the SCRA today. I am placing a copy in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 33946).

  Following the judgement of the Court of Appeal in England and Wales in the case of Cannings, ministers asked the SCRA to look at cases involving Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy and related infant deaths or conflicting medical evidence which might now be regarded as unreliable.

  The SCRA examined 35 cases in detail. They were able to complete their examination of 32 cases. A further three cases might be affected by current court proceedings. The SCRA will return to these cases after those proceedings are concluded.

  Although Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy was mentioned in some of the 32 cases, none was referred to a hearing solely because of a diagnosis of the condition. In all 32 completed cases, SCRA found that the grounds for referral were based on reliable evidence, and not solely on medical expert opinion that might be considered unreliable in the light of the Cannings judgement.

  In the light of the review, the Executive does not consider that any further work is required. I have however asked SCRA to send me its observations when the outcome of court proceedings in the three cases is known. SCRA will also contact ministers should any related concerns arise in the future.

Ministerial Meetings

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Minister for Environment and Rural Development has met his counterpart from Her Majesty’s Government, detailing the date and subject matter of each meeting.

Ross Finnie: Since I was appointed a minister in 1999 I have frequently met opposite numbers from the UK Government at both Cabinet and junior ministerial level to discuss issues of common interest. For example there have been regular meetings with UK Ministerial colleagues at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in advance of meetings of EU Council of Ministers to agree UK negotiating lines. It would be impractical to list the dates and subjects of all such meetings I have attended as a minister.

NHS Boards

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staffed (a) day care and (b) day surgery beds there have been in each NHS board in each year since 1998 and what the turnover of patients per bed has been.

Malcolm Chisholm: The specific information requested is not centrally available.

NHS Expenditure

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much, and by what percentage, each NHS board budget increased (a) in total and (b) per capita and what the average increase was in each board in each year from 1999-2000 to 2004-05.

Malcolm Chisholm: Details are as follows:

  

NHS Board
1999-2000
Total
Budget
Increase
(£000)
1999-2000
Total
Budget
Increase
(%)
1999-2000
Per
Capita
Increase
(£)
1999-2000
Per
Capita
Increase
(%)


Argyll and Clyde
14,027
3.6
36
4.0


Ayrshire and Arran
15,378
4.7
43
4.9


Borders
4,494
4.6
41
4.5


Dumfries and Galloway
8,031
5.7
58
6.1


Fife
12,344
4.3
35
4.2


Forth Valley
11,657
5.0
37
4.3


Grampian
15,371
3.5
29
3.5


Greater Glasgow
42,415
4.9
52
5.5


Highland
2,686
1.4
12
1.2


Lanarkshire
22,118
4.9
37
4.6


Lothian
22,954
3.5
24
2.8


Orkney**
-846
-3.8
-46
-4.0


Shetland
766
3.2
42
4.0


Tayside
15,306
4.0
43
4.4


Western Isles
493
1.4
36
2.8


Total
187,194
4.1
37
4.1



  Note: All boards received a minimum annual increase of 4.25(%) in initial unified budget. Total Budget Increases shown include funds relating to recurring and non-recurring allocations. Annual comparisons are, therefore, not necessarily comparing like with like.

  **Adjustment to the method of funding the Scottish Ambulance Service and a reduction in the level of non-recurring bridging finance from 1998-99 to 1999-2000 distorts annual changes although this had no impact on the level of disposable income available to the board.

  

NHS Board
2000-01
Total
Budget
Increase
(£000)
2000-01
Total
Budget
Increase
(%)
2000-01
Per
Capita
Increase
(£)
2000-01
Per
Capita
Increase
(%)


Argyll and Clyde
29,208
7.3
74
7.8


Ayrshire and Arran
26,734
7.8
75
8.2


Borders
5,698
5.6
49
5.1


Dumfries and Galloway
5,777
3.9
47
4.6


Fife
22,189
7.4
60
7.1


Forth Valley
20,888
8.6
74
8.4


Grampian
32,505
7.1
65
7.5


Greater Glasgow
61,779
6.8
70
7.0


Highland
15,383
7.8
74
7.8


Lanarkshire
35,695
7.5
64
7.5


Lothian
48,377
7.1
56
6.4


Orkney
948
4.4
55
5.1


Shetland
1,854
7.5
97
8.9


Tayside
28,894
7.3
82
8.1


Western Isles
2,888
7.8
125
9.3


Total
338,817
7.2
67
7.3



  Note: All boards received a minimum annual increase of 5.1(%) in initial unified budget. Total Budget Increases shown include funds relating to recurring and non-recurring allocations. Annual comparisons are, therefore, not necessarily comparing like with like.

  

NHS Board
2001-02
Total
Budget
Increase
(£000)
2001-02
Total
Budget
Increase
(%)
2001-02
Per
Capita
Increase
(£)
2001-02
Per
Capita
Increase
(%)


Argyll and Clyde
25,190
5.9
67
6.6


Ayrshire and Arran
19,198
5.2
66
6.7


Borders
4,443
4.2
41
4.1


Dumfries and Galloway
8,708
5.7
45
4.2


Fife
14,255
4.5
43
4.7


Forth Valley
11,762
4.4
38
4.0


Grampian
14,945
3.1
24
2.6


Greater Glasgow
62,294
6.4
117
10.8


Highland
17,837
8.4
84
8.2


Lanarkshire
40,983
8.0
89
9.7


Lothian
42,268
5.8
60
6.4


Orkney
2,123
9.5
126
11.0


Shetland
1,603
6.0
99
8.3


Tayside
33,524
7.9
77
7.0


Western Isles
4,078
10.2
195
13.3


Total
303,211
6.0
70
7.0



  Note: All boards received a minimum annual increase of 5.5(%) in initial unified budget. Total Budget Increases shown include funds relating to recurring and non-recurring allocations. Annual comparisons are, therefore, not necessarily comparing like with like.

  

NHS Board
2002-03
Total
Budget
Increase
(£000)
2002-03
Total
Budget
Increase
(%)
2002-03
Per
Capita
Increase
(£)
2002-03
Per
Capita
Increase
(%)


Argyll and Clyde
22,421
4.9
59
5.4


Ayrshire and Arran
26,260
6.8
75
7.1


Borders
6,301
5.7
54
5.2


Dumfries and Galloway
10,762
6.6
77
7.0


Fife
19,501
5.8
53
5.6


Forth Valley
18,361
6.6
65
6.6


Grampian
36,112
7.2
74
7.7


Greater Glasgow
83,256
8.0
99
8.3


Highland
15,864
6.9
80
7.3


Lanarkshire
19,657
3.5
36
3.6


Lothian
3,135
0.4
4
0.4


Orkney
1,198
4.9
63
4.9


Shetland
2,735
9.7
126
9.8


Tayside
14,827
3.2
42
3.6


Western Isles
2,646
6.0
117
7.0


Total
283,036
5.3
58
5.5



  Note: All boards received a minimum annual increase of 6.8(%) in initial unified budget. Total Budget Increases shown include funds relating to recurring and non-recurring allocations. Annual comparisons are, therefore, not necessarily comparing like with like.

  

NHS Board
2003-04
Total
Budget
Increase
(£000)
2003-04
Total
Budget
Increase
(%)
2003-04
Per
Capita
Increase
(£)
2003-04
Per
Capita
Increase
(%)


Argyll and Clyde
32,803
6.9
83
7.3


Ayrshire and Arran
33,080
8.0
90
8.0


Borders
9,381
8.0
78
7.1


Dumfries and Galloway
11,927
6.9
82
7.0


Fife
29,043
8.2
79
7.8


Forth Valley
18,037
6.1
63
6.0


Grampian
37,761
7.0
72
7.0


Greater Glasgow
57,965
5.2
66
5.1


Highland
19,794
8.0
89
7.5


Lanarkshire
50,008
8.7
89
8.6


Lothian
111,195
14.3
141
14.2


Orkney
1,337
5.2
62
4.7


Shetland
2,334
7.5
111
7.9


Tayside
22,156
4.7
60
4.9


Western Isles
3,750
8.1
150
8.5


Total
440,571
7.8
87
7.7



  Note: All boards received a minimum annual increase of 7.4(%) in initial unified budget. Total Budget Increases shown include funds relating to recurring and non-recurring allocations. Annual comparisons are, therefore, not necessarily comparing like with like.

  

NHS Board
2004-05
Total
Budget
Increase
(£000)
2004-05
Total
Budget
Increase
(%)
2004-05
Per
Capita
Increase
(£)
2004-05
Per
Capita
Increase
(%)


Argyll and Clyde
55,048
10.8
132
10.8


Ayrshire and Arran
50,307
11.3
137
11.3


Borders
14,777
11.6
136
11.6


Dumfries and Galloway
21,849
11.8
148
11.8


Fife
44,750
11.7
127
11.7


Forth Valley
29,491
9.4
105
9.4


Grampian
32,459
5.6
62
5.6


Greater Glasgow
96,825
8.2
112
8.2


Highland
34,355
12.9
164
12.9


Lanarkshire
60,796
9.7
110
9.7


Lothian
34,168
3.9
44
3.9


Orkney
2,590
9.6
134
9.6


Shetland
854
2.6
39
2.6


Tayside
37,807
7.6
98
7.6


Western Isles
3,103
6.2
119
6.2


Total
519,179
8.5
103
8.5



  Note: All boards received a minimum annual increase of 6.75(%) in initial unified budget. Total Budget Increases shown include funds relating to recurring and non-recurring allocations. Annual comparisons are, therefore, not necessarily comparing like with like.

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the year-on-year increase in the recruitment of (a) consultants, (b) doctors and (c) nurses has been in the NHS in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: The year on year recruitment figures for (a) consultants, (b) doctors and (c) qualified nurses and midwives are show in the following table.

  

Headcount
30th Sep 1999 to 30th Sep 2000
30th Sep 2000 to 30th Sep 2001
30th Sep 2001 to 30th Sep 2002
30th Sep 2002 to 30th Sep 2003


Consultants1
 


All joiners2
203
269
249
245


Doctors3
 


All joiners4
1,932
1,950
2,217
1,951


Qualified Nurses and Midwives
 


All joiners5
2,906
3,493
3,626
4,120



  Source: ISD Scotland.

  Notes:

  1. Consultants are defined as medical consultants including directors of public health.

  2. In each period, consultant joiners are doctors employed as a consultant at the later date, and not employed as a consultant in a substantive post at the earlier date.

  3. Doctors are defined as all medical staff employed in the hospital and community sectors of the NHS. This includes consultants, other career grade doctors and doctors in training, but excludes GPs.

  4. In each period, doctor joiners are doctors employed in the hospital and community sectors in any grade at the later date, and not employed in the hospital and community sectors in any substantive grade at the earlier date.

  5. In each period, nurse and midwife joiners are nurses and midwives employed in the hospital and community sectors in any grade at the later date, and not employed in the hospital and community sectors in any substantive grade at the earlier date.

  The Scottish Executive is committed to increasing the capacity within the consultant, doctors and nursing and midwifery staff groups and have a number of recruitment and retention initiatives underway to support this.

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the year-on-year increase in the recruitment of (a) consultants, (b) doctors and (c) nurses in the NHS will be over the next five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are a number of Partnership Agreement commitments relating to increasing staffing numbers. These include increasing the number of NHS consultants by 600 by 2006 and attracting 12,000 nurses and midwives into NHSScotland by September 2007.

Pharmacies

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to replicate the decision of the Department of Health to reduce the regulation of entry into NHS pharmacy contracts.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are no plans to replicate the Department of Health decision.

Police

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9973 by Cathy Jamieson on 9 September 2004, what percentage of the total number of police stations each figure represents.

Cathy Jamieson: The number of police stations closed as a percentage of the number of stations closed plus the current number of stations, for each police force area, is shown in the following table.

  

Force
Percentage


Central Scotland Police
0


Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary
5


Fife Police
5


Grampian Police
20


Lothian and Borders Police
0


Northern Constabulary
10


Strathclyde Police
25


Tayside Police
15



  Note: Percentages take no account of the size of stations closed. A significant number were single officer stations which were seldom used by the public.

Police

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how often baton rounds have been utilised in Scotland; in what circumstances they were utilised, and by which police forces.

Cathy Jamieson: Whilst baton rounds may be deployed by Scottish police forces as part of conventional firearms operations, to date no Scottish police force has had occasion to discharge baton rounds.

Police

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police forces have access to baton rounds.

Cathy Jamieson: All Scottish police forces have access to baton rounds for use as a less lethal option in firearms operations.

Police

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police forces have been trained in the use of baton rounds.

Cathy Jamieson: All Scottish police forces have Authorised Firearms Officers specially trained in the use of baton guns and rounds.

Prison Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been commissioned into the number of people with learning disabilities in prison or in secure accommodation and what arrangements are in place to assess them and provide them with care, as recommended in The same as you? A review of services for people with learning disabilities.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Executive commissioned additional research into this area entitled On the Borderline? People with Learning Disabilities and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorders in Secure, Forensic and other Specialist Settings.

  The Scottish Prison Service Core Screening Process will identify those who require further specialist assessment.

  Services suitable for assessed needs will be provided through Psychological Services and alongside the contracted learning providers.

  The Scottish Prison Service is addressing each of the recommendations which involve prisoners with a learning disability.

  In relation to secure accommodation I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3928, answered on 19 November 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

Public Sector Staff

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a policy on (a) training for its senior staff and (b) guidance for staff of non-departmental public bodies and Executive agencies and whether it has sought such training and guidance from business schools in Scotland or elsewhere and, if so, what the costs were, detailing which business schools were commissioned to provide such training and guidance.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has a policy of providing senior staff with the training and development they require to lead the organisation in delivering the Government’s objectives for the people of Scotland. A range of opportunities is provided, including UK-wide programmes delivered by Cabinet Office and local programmes and events.

  Senior staff in agencies of the Executive come under the same development arrangements as those in main departments. However non-departmental bodies are responsible for the development of their own staff.

  Corporate Learning Services Division of the Executive, who are responsible for senior development, maintain regular contact with Universities and Business Schools on a number of aspects of training and development but have not commissioned any formal training or guidance from them. Under procurement rules the Executive have to put out to tender the provision of all externally sourced training services – so are not in a position to prioritise Business Schools over other potential providers.

Rail Services

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements to on-board facilities it has secured for rail services between (a) Edinburgh and Glasgow and (b) Aberdeen and Inverness under the ScotRail franchise.

Nicol Stephen: On-board catering services under the new ScotRail franchise will be subject to a stringent performance regime whereby failures in standards will attract financial penalties for the franchisee. A similar provision does not exist under the current franchise.

  The new franchise holder has confirmed its intention to undertake an early review of on-train catering on the ScotRail network in order to assess how best to enhance and improve catering services for passengers.

Regeneration

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support is available to local authorities to regenerate town centres.

Ms Margaret Curran: No specific support is available to local authorities to regenerate town centres. However, Scottish local authorities are now responsible for deciding how much they can afford to spend on investment in capital infrastructure. Additionally, local authorities are receiving above inflation increases in revenue grant, but it is up to each local authority to decide how best to allocate these resources based on local needs and priorities.

Renewable Energy

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to promote marine sources of energy production and what future plans there are for such measures.

Lewis Macdonald: The world’s first commercial wave energy project - in Islay - received support under the Scottish Renewables Obligation. More recently, the Executive has contributed over £2 million towards the establishment of the wave test facility at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. Discussions with our funding partners to extend the Centre to accommodate tidal projects are at an advanced stage.

  The Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS), which I chair, recently published a report identifying the way ahead for marine energy in Scotland. Three members of the sub-group which produced this report have since been among the partners which have formed the consortium based UK Centre for Marine Renewable Energy, which will drive forward some of the key tasks identified by the report.

  Following the FREDS marine energy report, the DTI announced a £50 million UK fund for marine renewables. We will work closely with DTI colleagues on the details of this scheme. We will also consider how best the Executive can support marine developments from within our own renewables programme budget.

Research

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of expenditure by research institutions was on the development of clean technologies in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

Roads

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it carried out with local businesses in Kincardine prior to roadworks being carried out on the A977 that have affected access for car drivers and buses to the village centre.

Nicol Stephen: Access to every part of Kincardine was maintained throughout the short duration of the works. Draft temporary traffic orders to enable traffic management measures to facilitate the works on the A977 were published. Local residents were informed by maildrop as a matter of courtesy.

Roads

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review, and seek to improve, its consultation procedures prior to the commencement of roadworks, in light of any recent difficulties experienced by local business as in Kincardine.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive continuously reviews the effectiveness of its consultations for major road works. If particular difficulties are experienced I would always be anxious to be informed, so that improvements can be considered.

Roads

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will put in place new signposts giving car drivers in the vicinity of Kincardine clear and specific directions on how to access the village centre, following completion of the roadworks on the A977.

Nicol Stephen: The signing scheme to Kincardine will be reviewed as part of the monitoring of the performance of the now-completed new road.

Roads

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out an assessment of the impact of on-going roadworks on the A977 on businesses in Kincardine.

Nicol Stephen: An economic activity and location impact analysis is not normally undertaken for the type of minor works recently completed on the A977.

Roads

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10105 by Nicol Stephen on 13 September 2004, what role Argyll and Bute Council plays in relation to current work being undertaken for the Executive in connection with the A82 Route Action Plan (RAP) and what targets have been set for the completion of that study and for public consultation on any specific projects that might be brought forward from the RAP for inclusion in future trunk roads capital programmes.

Nicol Stephen: Argyll and Bute Council are the local roads authority for a significant part of the area through which the A82 passes and are a consultee in the preparation of the Route Action Plan Study.

  The study is to be completed by October 2005. Thereafter, identified projects for improving the road which are selected for implementation will be subject to the normal statutory consultation process.

Rural Development

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7484 by Ross Finnie on 7 May 2004, whether the comprehensive guidance for rural communities across Scotland on developing village halls is now available.

Ross Finnie: Work on this guide is well advanced and publication is planned for the early part of 2005.

Science

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which Scottish universities ran degree programmes in chemistry in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: According to data collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency, 13 Scottish higher education institutions ran single and/or joint degree programmes in chemistry in each year between 1998-99 and 2002-03.

  These institutions were University of Abertay Dundee, The Robert Gordon University, The University of Paisley, Glasgow Caledonian University, Napier University, The University of Edinburgh, The University of Glasgow, The University of Strathclyde, The University of Aberdeen, Heriot-Watt University, The University of Dundee, The University of St Andrews and The University of Stirling. In 2002-03 Bell College also ran a degree programme in chemistry.

  For the session 2004-05, information from the UCAS and institutional websites indicates that chemistry is no longer offered as a single subject and/or part of a degree programme at the University of Stirling and Napier University.

Science

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on degree-qualified chemists.

Mr Jim Wallace: A key aim of A Science Strategy for Scotland , published by the Scottish Executive in August 2001, is to ensure that enough people study science to a standard which will enable the future needs of the country to be met. However, the Executive does not have a policy in connection with the numbers of people taking particular degrees except in a few well-defined areas. My answer to question S2W-8365 answered on 7 June 2004 is also relevant. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

Scottish Executive Staff

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it has employed with a registered disability in each year since 1999, broken down by grade and expressed also as a percentage of total staff numbers.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Executive’s Diversity Strategy, launched in November 2000, has set demanding targets for the recruitment of under-represented groups, including staff with disabilities. Progress towards these targets is set out below.

  In line with the Strategy, the Executive will continue to work towards its aim of becoming an organisation that values the contribution of each member of staff and broadly reflects the communities it serves.

  Scottish Executive Permanent Staff

  Percentage and Numbers of Self-Declared Disabled Staff

  April 1999 to April 2004

  

Target**
April 1999
April 2000
April 2001
April 2002
April 2003
April 2004
April 2005


SCS
*
*
*
*
*
*
3.0%


Band C
1.1% 
(7)
1.1% 
(8)
1.0% 
( 8)
1.0% 
(8)
1.2% 
(11)
1.1% 
(11)
1.4%


Band B
1.8% 
(43)
1.8% 
(49)
2.0% 
(54)
2.2% 
(66)
2.2% 
(71)
2.6% 
(92)
3.2%


Band A
3.3% 
(94)
3.4% 
(96)
3.5% 
(96)
3.9% 
(113)
4.2% 
(118)
5.1% 
(145)
5.0%



  Notes:

  *Figures marked with an asterisk cannot be published separately to preserve confidentiality.

  **As published in the Scottish Executive Diversity Strategy (November 2000).

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals were received from the recent diet of Scottish Qualifications Authority examinations and, of these, how many were successful, broken down by local authority and type of examination.

Peter Peacock: The appeals system for national qualifications is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). However, I can inform you that the appeals process is still on-going and that SQA expect to publish this data in November 2004.

Social Inclusion

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the context of its responsibility for social inclusion, it has had any discussions with Her Majesty’s Government to ensure that all homes in Aberdeenshire will be able to receive digital terrestrial television signals before the analogue signals are switched off and, if so, what the outcome was.

Mr Frank McAveety: Officials hold regular meetings with the joint DCMS/DTI Digital Television Project Team, and ministers are kept aware of developments.

  The UK Government is committed to ensuring that terrestrial analogue broadcasting signals are maintained until:

  Everyone who can currently get the main public service broadcasting channels in analogue form (BBC1 and 2, ITV, Channel 4/S4C and Channel 5) can receive them on digital systems, and

  Switching to digital is an affordable option for the vast majority of people;

  As a target indicator of affordability 95% of consumers have access to digital equipment.

  On 14 September 2004, Ofcom issued a consultation paper setting out the terms of digital replacement licences (DRLs) which Ofcom intends to offer to the ITV Companies, Channel 4, Five and Teletext. Ofcom proposes that holders of DRLs will have an obligation to convert all 1,154 transmitters from analogue to digital television broadcasting for digital switchover. Under Ofcom’s proposals, households that currently receive analogue transmissions should be able to receive a digital signal at switchover.

  It will be condition of the DRLs that licensees must ensure Switchover is completed by 2012. This is in line with dates suggested by the BBC in their 29 June publication Building Public Value. The dates of specific station and transmitter conversion will vary from licence to licence, reflecting the current list of transmission stations and the sequence of regional switchover.

  Although the Government has not yet confirmed a timetable for digital switchover, Tessa Jowell, in a statement on 22 July 2004, indicated that the start of switchover could begin as early as 2007. The Secretary of State believes that switchover needs to be broadcaster-led but that the final decision on timetable should balance these benefits against the need to ensure that the interests of the most vulnerable consumers are protected.

  She has asked Ofcom’s independent consumer panel to consider what measures might be necessary to ensure this protection and report to DCMS later this year with their advice.

  My officials are in touch with DCMS to ensure that any social inclusions issues for Scotland arising from digital switchover are fully considered.

Teachers

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the implementation of the McCrone agreement.

Peter Peacock: Implementation of the teachers’ agreement A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century is on track. All key milestones to date have been met, and we expect that it will be implemented in full by August 2006.

Telecommunications

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to BT regarding BT’s proposals to close public telephone boxes.

Mr Jim Wallace: Proposals on public telephone boxes are a matter regulated by the UK-wide body, OFCOM.

  A direction was published last year, accessible on the following link http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/oftel/publications/eu_directives/2003/payp0703.pdf, which sets out the conditions which universal service providers(USPs), like BT, must adhere to when considering closure of public payphones. I understand that USPs will not remove the last phone box from a site if reasonable objection is made within the required 42 days notice-period for closure.

  OFCOM will be reviewing this matter later this year, as part of their forthcoming wider consultation on the Universal Service Obligation. The Executive will respond to that consultation in due course.

Tourism

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Irish visitors to the United Kingdom visited Scotland in the most recent year for which data is available, expressed also as a percentage of the total number of visitors.

Mr Frank McAveety: In 2003, the number of visitors who came to Scotland from the Republic of Ireland totalled 48,000. These visitors represented 3.1% of the total number of tourists who visited Scotland last year from overseas.

Tourism

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many visitors from the European Union’s accession states to the United Kingdom have visited Scotland in each of the last two years, expressed also as a percentage of the total number of visitors.

Mr Frank McAveety: This information comes from the International Passenger Survey, but statistics on the number of visitors to Scotland from the European Union’s accession states in each of the last two years is not available. From the latest information that is available from the Survey, the number of visitors from the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland in 2002 totalled 4,369, 4,487 and 14,601 respectively. Visitors from the Czech Republic and Hungary both represented 0.3% of the total number of overseas tourists to Scotland in 2002, while visitors from Poland represented 0.9% of the total.

Voluntary Sector

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support (a) it and (b) its agencies provided to voluntary organisations in each of the last five years (i) in total and (ii) broken down by organisation.

Ms Margaret Curran: Centrally held details of direct Scottish Executive financial support to the voluntary sector are only available from 2000-01 and these are as follows:

  

2000-01
£34,530,578


2001-02
£38,860,792


2002-03
£228,403,745


2003-04
£262,864,116



  In addition to direct Scottish Executive grants the voluntary sector has received considerable financial support through indirect funding from public bodies such as local authorities, NHS boards, NHS TRUSTS and the enterprise networks. Resources allocated through these organisations are as follows:

  

2000-01
£265,202,768


2001-02
£304,489,736


2002-03
£131,300,945


2003-04
£112,001,623



  Information on financial support earmarked for the voluntary sector in 2004-05 will be published in November 2004.

  Tables containing a breakdown of the organisations provided with Scottish Executive grant funding have been placed in the Parliament’s reference centre (Bib. numbers 33880 - direct and 33881 - indirect).

Waste Management

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) household, (b) commercial and (c) total waste was recycled by each local authority in each of the last three years.

Ross Finnie: Figures available from the Accounts Commission are:

  

Authority
 
Household Waste Recycled (%)
Commercial and Industrial Waste Recycled (%)
Total Waste Recycled (%)


2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03


Aberdeen City
3.6
5.8
8.2
9.5
5.0
4.8
4.6
5.7
7.5


Aberdeenshire
16.4
21.0
13.8
1.2
1.5
8.1
13.3
17.0
13.0


Angus
14.7
18.5
23.1
14.8
27.2
29.4
14.8
20.2
24.3


Argyll and Bute
11.5
8.9
8.9
4.7
5.0
10.5
8.9
7.7
9.1


Clackmannanshire
4.4
4.6
6.6
0.0
0.0
6.0
4.2
4.4
6.6


Dumfries and Galloway
4.0
 
4.1
0.0
 
0.0
3.5
 
3.6


Dundee City
7.4
24.4
24.1
4.2
14.8
17.3
6.3
21.1
21.9


East Ayrshire
2.3
2.5
3.8
14.8
15.5
14.8
3.7
4.0
5.0


East Dunbartonshire
6.0
7.8
10.5
0.0
6.4
9.7
5.3
7.6
10.4


East Lothian
6.2
6.5
12.9
0.0
0.0
3.0
5.3
5.6
11.6


East Renfrewshire
8.2
13.1
15.3
3.4
3.3
3.9
7.8
12.2
14.5


Edinburgh, City of
5.5
5.2
8.4
0.0
3.8
5.0
4.3
4.9
7.7


Eilean Siar
0.0
1.0
7.1
0.7
2.6
0.8
0.4
1.9
5.0


Falkirk
7.6
7.3
10.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.0
5.6
6.8


Fife
2.2
2.0
5.0
3.4
3.2
6.0
2.4
2.2
5.2


Glasgow City
3.3
4.7
6.2
 
5.1
6.4
 
4.8
6.2


Highland
2.0
2.0
4.4
2.3
1.9
1.5
2.1
1.9
3.5


Inverclyde
3.8
4.8
5.6
0.0
0.0
6.4
3.1
4.0
5.8


Midlothian
3.3
4.0
4.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
3.1
3.8
4.1


Moray
3.5
5.2
9.6
6.2
8.6
15.7
4.6
6.6
12.2


North Ayrshire
8.0
6.6
13.9
0.0
0.0
1.0
6.9
5.8
12.3


North Lanarkshire
1.3
5.7
13.5
0.0
14.4
15.7
1.1
7.3
13.8


Orkney Islands
16.0
20.6
16.0
0.1
6.1
6.6
13.4
16.0
13.3


Perth and Kinross
17.9
18.6
18.6
9.6
2.6
13.5
16.4
15.8
17.7


Renfrewshire
4.7
5.6
9.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
3.9
5.0
8.4


Scottish Borders
15.2
18.7
13.8
2.1
2.5
1.0
11.4
13.6
9.7


Shetland Islands
11.0
10.3
5.6
17.5
10.3
5.5
12.0
10.3
5.6


South Ayrshire
6.4
5.9
6.9
5.2
2.8
17.4
6.0
5.1
10.7


South Lanarkshire
6.6
12.1
12.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
5.5
11.1
12.4


Stirling
8.0
10.1
11.6
7.3
5.1
7.2
7.8
8.4
10.2


West Dunbartonshire
9.0
9.8
10.2
0.7
0.9
1.9
5.3
6.1
6.6


West Lothian
3.4
6.1
10.1
5.8
4.5
7.3
3.9
5.7
9.8



  The percentages are based on the tonnages of waste that are recycled or composted. Ash used for daily top cover at landfill sites is excluded. All figures for 2001-02 for Dumfries and Galloway and the commercial and industrial and total waste figures for Glasgow for 2000-01 have been excluded as the figures supplied to the Accounts Commission are considered unreliable.

Wildlife

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the use of snares; whether it will introduce legislation to ban the use of snares, and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Allan Wilson: I set out the Executive’s position on snaring in the Parliament on 5 May 2004 during the Stage 3 proceedings of the (now) Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.

  I made it clear that where snares are used, they must be set, monitored and maintained in a professional manner and that the criminal sanctions contained within the Act will apply.

  The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 introduces a new power for Scottish ministers to ban any type of snare by order and a new offence of setting or using a snare which is calculated to cause unnecessary suffering. In addition, it creates a legal obligation for all snares to be checked at least once a day to ensure that no more than 24 hours elapse between such inspections.

  Self-locking snares are already illegal, but the act made it an offence to possess, sell or expose for sale a self-locking snare without reasonable excuse. A further offence is being in possession of a snare on any land, and of the setting of a snare where the permission of the owner or occupier of the land has not been sought.

  Scottish ministers are given new powers to specify technical criteria, procedures and the detailed circumstances in which an offence is regarded to have been committed. As I made clear at stage 3, I want to ensure that, before any orders are made under the act, these issues will be the subject of full, public consultation.

Young People

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a national PASS-accredited proof-of-age card, as recommended by the Scottish Retail Consortium and the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.

Tom McCabe: There are no plans to introduce a national proof of age card. However, the Scottish Executive continues to support the development of the Dialogue Youth project and associated local authority/Young Scot card which is PASS accredited and, amongst other things, provides proof of age. The card will be rolled out to all local authority areas by the end of 2004.